E127 Mystery Small Block Chevy Disassembly! 1956 Chevy Bel Air Restoration
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- In Episode 127, we disassemble a 350 small block to reveal its inner secrets, learning that what we thought for 20 years was not what it seemed!
Bill Thomassie
"Christine" 1956 Chevy Bel Air
2-door Sedan Restoration
Music Credits:
All CZcams Standard License
"Greaser" by TrackTribe
• TrackTribe - "Greaser"...
Bill, everyone is providing their advice and, while none of it is "wrong", some ideas are better than others. Only you know Christine and you've made every right decision so far. I know you'll make a great one this time.
Wow what a shock to find that out after all this time! Sounds like a good excuse for a big block. Thx
Nah, we're not going to go that far. The solution is mostly in the garage already. Stay tuned!
Keep the great job 👍
I've got a plan... let's just see how it plays out!
Wow that was interesting
I'm telling you, I was shocked!
I was facing a similar situation on my 55. I bought a motor and was told it was a 350 and it actually was a 327. I went with it and when asked at shows, I was thrilled to tell them it was a 1968 327. Sounded more vintage to me. By the way, it ran great and was very strong. Sadly I sold the car 20 years ago. I had 2 beautiful daughters getting married.......a matter of priorities. No regrets.
There is just something about saying "three-twenty-seven" that sounds cool! Remember, Hot Rod's Project X 1957 had a 283. Coolest scene ever in Hollywood Knights when they were drag racing it against that Cobra. If you look closely, you can see smoke come out over the car with the hood off. I'm pretty sure they hurt the motor in that scene!
Boy I sure hope you go with the 350 love your show I have been watching oh about 9 months now and really like it hope your decision is 350 will be watching no matter what enjoying the show oh did you make a show on your cutlass I had a 1970 cutlass rallye fun car
We will see! I've got a plan... stay tuned!
Hi Billgreat job
Thanks!
Can’t wait to see what you do
I've figured it out... stay tuned!
I know what you’re thinking / about the “heart - sole” philosophy idea, but my gut tells me you should go a different route. Put your Trick Flows on the Vortec 350! Christine deserves it. Added bonus is that is a one piece rear main seal and a roller cam engine. You will still have the vintage look using the Trick Flows. If you put that 307 back in the thought will haunt you forever? Brings back a conversation I had with my dad back in my high school days (early 90’s) I considered putting a 305 in my 71 Impala cause it was running engine “but” I had a 400 short block that needed attention and would take time to earn the money to get it ready. I can still hear my dads words to this day “well do you want a little tool or a big tool your pants…no replacement for displacement” 😂 ok dad I hear you 😂. So I worked as many hours as I could (Wendy’s at the time) and built the 400. NO REGRETS, dad was right. Great video Bill! The drama look on your face when the discovery was made was priceless. We all have been there. Whatever you decide, she will be awesome.
I've got a plan... just need to wait for an upcoming episode to clue everyone else in!
I had the exact situation as this in my 57.i sold the 307.bought a 350 4 bolt main block and put good heads,flat top piston and a good cam.costs the same to build a 350 as a 307 but get more cubes.
You're right. If I was starting with a block that needed work, shoot I'd probably be looking for a 400. Machine work, pistons and bearings all cost the same no matter which you start with.
Bill I would put 305 HO heads they worked great on my 377 in my late model stock car
(Shhhh....)
Motor looks good! There ain’t nothing wrong with a 307. I’m just an old man with an opinion. I’m not a scientist and I don’t play one on TV, LOL,but I think that crust in the water passage is rust and calcium. I would suggest never use only water in the cooling system, but use antifreeze coolant with distilled water!
Most of that build-up was at the back of the head where there is no crossover within the manifold. It's a dead end. I've looked more closely and it's not nearly as bad as that looked.
Put the vortec 350, there good blocks “roller cam” but get rid of those vortec heads and install your camel humps. I purchased 2 Vortecs for my 64 impalas and they both had cracked heads gonna install those trick flow camel humps
I'm not sure if this one has a roller in it, but I think that it does. I believe its a 2001 block and the guy that had it before me claimed to have put a cam in it.
@@RestoringChristine1956 if it has the 880 stamped on block it should be roller
Well heck Bill it too bad the engine wasn't what you thought it was. Personally if it ran good I'd clean up the block throw in new bearing and rings and call it good. Maybe a better set of factory heads. I had a 307 in a Camaro. It ran good enough for me but it's Your engine so go with what you want. Enjoyed this video.
You're close! That's almost exactly what I did!
That’s a Boat anchor just find a freaking roller block, and do it the right way one time and one time only.
I feel your pain! Sure kind of a disappointment. I always thought 307's were truck motors in the old days. Generally 2 barrel carbs. It's a reliable engine, but that is about it! You have worked so hard, and been so meticulous every step of the way, don't give up now! You have 2 good engines there, and I'm sure you will have other projects. Put a nice new motor in Christine, she deserves it!! :) Maybe do some horse trading?? There are thousands of 350's out there, and lots of parts available. Would your new heads fit a 350?? Did not catch what heads you bought. Your project just got even more interesting!! ;)
Well, the answer is inside that garage, plus or minus. I've got a plan... stay tuned!
@@RestoringChristine1956 Happy for you! New heads should help! ;)
The number on the front will help tell you what it is.
Turns out the numbers are a date code and the three letters at the end point to a 307 block.
Man that sucks. Either run it as it is or get another engine. Whichever makes you happy and fits the budget.
The budget and calendar weighed heavily on this decision.
Get a 350 block (they are still very plentiful) and build a 383 stroker- great engine
I've always been intrigued by the 383 stroker since the 80s, but that's a lot of work to go from nothing to everything with where I'm at right now.
With all the fantastic work done to your car I would get a different motor.
The solution has to come from what I already have in the garage. I have 8 weeks to get Christine rolling for Cruisin' the Coast so I'm working on it!
It just never seems to end on these old cars. I guess you felt it was OK when you thought it was a 350, why not just put it back in?
That's very close to where I ended up. $500 for a set of good factory heads with a little bit of port work on my part and that's where we landed.
307 is a 283 block with 327 crank i never had any luck with 307 now 283 was a screamer and 327 was a screamer your heads willl not work the bore is too small if you was around tocoaa GA i would hook you up with lil sbc. Now that vortec would be sweet like you was talking about doing you will get good power out of the vortec and the trick flow heads you got are good heads we built a few motors with them and thay run really good we build all type of engines mainly dirt track motors jr headen custom race engines tocoa GA
Right, the Trick Flows have huge valves and need at least 4.0" bore to clear. And I appreciate the offers!
Surprise ... surprise ... surprise ... sounds like the good ole days when we all got snookered at one time or another ... what ever you go with just make it so it doesn't overheat ... also I think all of us tri-five guys had a Sun tack like that in our cars ... sole search ...
I like that Sun Tach. It was "new" when I used to buy them in the 80's, but I guess now it's "vintage." I'd use an old Stewart-Warner for an even older look if it had a decent sweep, but the display is so narrow.
Build a 350.Machine work costs the same,and you end up with a bigger engine.Convert to roller cam.First time you fire it you have no worry of lobe failure.
In the 1990s, I lost not one but TWO cams due to lobe failure during break-in. From what I read in years since, it was because the oil companies had lowered the zinc content from their oils and didn't consider the older motors that weren't using the modern roller set-up. Ever since, I've used break-in oil that is sold "for offroad use only." Guess they changed the regs and that's what caused it.
All the time in days you put into working on a vehicle and making it look the way it looks you should put a new motor in there and put something really nice.
In an ideal world, I'm right there with you. I think long term I might build that Vortec that's sitting on the floor and might swap out for it one day in the future. But I just didn't have the time to wait or the coin to spend.
like 7 !
👍
If I was you I would use the vortec engine it's all around better with roller cam better everything and it's a 350 a great engine for a old tri 5 chevy way better then a under 200hp boat anchor. If I was you I would be using the 350 plus it's a vortc you can't go wrong
it's a 1969-72 307 cu in with 130-200 hp not a desirable block a 010 350 would of been better then that even a 327 but a 307 is the early day 305 the bottom of the barrel engines that everyone uses as boat anchor lol.
Yep, the code on the front of the block is in pieces and indicates a 307 built in 1971.
Bill if remember 307 came out in late 60's till mid 70's. GM put engine in every thing my dad had a 71 Suburban with that engine. Sorry it not what you thought it was...
I did find out that the last three letters on the code that's stamped on the front indicate that its a 307 and the first few numbers are a date code, which points to 1971.